Night driving glasses are special glasses that are supposed to help you see better at night while you're driving. But research suggests that night driving glasses, most of which are yellow or amber tinted, may actually make your night vision worse.
Many people have reduced vision in low light, especially as you get older. At 50, you may need twice as much light to see as well as you did when you were 30. As you get older, other diseases such as cataracts can also make it harder to see at night.
Features of nighttime driving glasses
Night driving glasses are usually yellow-tinted, and you don't need a prescription. They often have the following characteristics:
Yellow or amber tint. Yellow-tinted lenses won't improve your vision's sharpness when you drive at night and may make you drive worse. But they may improve contrast in some daylight conditions.
Antireflective coating. Such coating lessens the glare from oncoming traffic headlights but doesn't cut the amount of visible light reaching your eye.
Polarized lenses. Polarized lenses reduce the amount of light that reaches your eyes. That may help when driving in daylight, but it could weaken your vision when you drive at night.
Conditions That Make It Harder to See at Night
Many conditions can make it harder for you to see or drive in the dark. They include:
Nyctalopia. Another name for this condition is night blindness. If you have this condition, you're not fully blind at night, but you may have a harder time seeing when there is less light. Nyctalopia is sometimes a sign of a different medical condition.
Myopia. This is also known as nearsightedness. It means you have trouble seeing things that are far away. It might also be harder to see in low-light conditions. A variation of myopia is referred to as night myopia. This type of nearsightedness happens only at night and can generally be corrected with a glasses prescription.
Glaucoma. Glaucoma reduces peripheral vision and can make it harder to see at night. Glaucoma happens when fluid builds up in the eye and damages the optic nerve.
Cataracts. Cataracts cause the lens of your eye to be cloudy, making it harder to see. This condition affects your vision both during the day and at night.
Lack of vitamin A. Lack of this important nutrient can cause blindness, though this is extremely rare. Foods that are high in vitamin A include:
- Pumpkin
- Carrots
- Sweet potatoes
- Leafy greens
- Eggs
In the early stages of vitamin A deficiency, you might notice that you have trouble seeing at night and in low light. If your doctor diagnoses this deficiency soon enough, your symptoms can be reversed.
Retinitis pigmentosa. This genetic disorder is rare. It reduces night vision and peripheral vision because it causes the cells in the retina to degrade. These cells are sensitive to light and help you to see at night.
Do Night Driving Glasses Work?
Research suggests that night driving glasses may hinder your ability to see at night while driving. The yellow lenses actually make less light reach your eye, making it harder to see.
They are actually better for helping you see during the day. They filter out blue light, creating greater contrast in daylight conditions. These glasses were originally created for hunters. They allow hunters to see birds against the sky more easily during the day.
One study showed that people wearing night driving glasses had a harder time seeing pedestrians in their path than people who were not wearing night driving glasses. Those wearing the night driving glasses sometimes took up to 1.5 seconds longer to see pedestrians while driving.
How to See Better at Night
Although night driving glasses may actually hinder your ability to see in low-light conditions, there are many things you can do to see better at night, including:
Clean your windshield. Dirt and dust can make it harder to see. Don't forget to clean the inside, too.
Keep your windshield wipers in good condition. Replace them at regular intervals, and keep them clean.
Clean your headlights. Dirt covering your headlights can make them appear dimmer.
Clean your glasses. Use a microfiber cleaning cloth to make sure your glasses are clear and easy to see through.
Dim the dashboard lights. This eases eye strain and helps you see better at night.
Interior lights. Sometimes, turning on a light inside your car can help shrink your pupil to help you see a little better.
Visit your eye doctor regularly. Keep your glasses or contact lens prescription up to date, and visit your eye doctor when you have a concern or at their recommended interval.
Use an antireflective coating on your glasses. If you wear glasses already, you can get an antireflective coating to help you see better at night. The coating lessens glare from lights at night.
When driving at night, you have less time to react to objects in your path. Headlights and high beams can help, but the distance you can see is significantly reduced compared with the daytime. Other ways to stay safe while driving at night include:
- Drive only when you are well-rested.
- Pay extra care when driving in rush hour traffic in the evening.
- Don't drive while under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
- Drive slower at night.
Night Driving Glasses FAQs
Do night driving glasses actually work?
Research suggests that most amber-tinted or yellow night driving glasses do more harm than good. They may be useful for daytime driving.
What should I look for in night driving glasses?
Polarized glasses may reduce glare and enable you to see clearer when you drive at night. But avoid night driving glasses with yellow tint.
Can I use night driving glasses during the day?
You can use night driving glasses during the day. Research suggests that the yellow or amber tint may help your vision in daylight.
Should I talk to an eye doctor first?
You should always consult your eye doctor before buying or using night driving glasses.
